Alberobello

Around 11 miles away, the first impression of Alberobello might be that one has entered into the realm of Tolkien's Gnomes, the Smurfs or some other imaginary beings.

The success of the architectural structure that goes under the name of 'Trullo' (dwellings built from the 16th century onwards on the hills of the southern central Murgia) is due to two fundamental factors: the abundance of stone easily worked by hammer and the reduced taxation liable for dry stone construction. And it was for this reason that in Alberobello, (then located in what was still a largely wooded interior and consequently poor), an entire village was built at the end of the 16th century using this construction technique.

It has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO and is one of the best known tourist destinations in the region. This should not deter the visitor who wants to avoid the souvenirs and bric-a-brac 'made in Taiwan' sold on every street corner. There are other quarters (for example Il Rione Aia piccola) that are free from such problems.

By all good accounts a walk late at night or at first light draws the visitor into its truly surreal atmosphere.